Weft detector for looms



May 8, 1951 s. F. SICILIANO WEFT DETECTOR FOR LOOMS Filed March 1'7. 1950 INVENTOR. SAMUEL F. SICILIANO Patented May 8, 1951 'WEFT DETECTOR FOR LOOMS Samuel F. Siciliano, Westerly, It. 1., assignor to George C. Moore Company, Westerly, It. 1., a corporation of Rhode Island Application March 17, 1950, Serial No. 150,150

11 Claims. (01. 139-370) This invention is an improvement in Weft cletectors for multishuttle narrow fabric looms of the kind set forth in my prior Patent No. 2,470,527, granted May 17, 1949, for Weft Detectors, and as in such patent has as its object the provision of a novel and improved mechanism of this sort having general utility and especially adapted for use in a narrow fabric loom employing a plurality of reeds and a plurality of shuttles on the same lay beam to weave a number of distinct fabrics simultaneously. The main pur pose of the invention is to provide a device which will detect instantly a failure in the weft supply to any one of the plurality of fabrics being woven, whether such failure is caused by breakage or exhaustion of such weft or comprises slackness in the length of weft extending from the fabric to the shuttle during the beat-up and resulting from failure of the shuttle tension or other causes, and which mechanism will respond to such detection by calling a change in the working of the loom, as by stopping the loom, or by operating an audible or visual signal, or otherwise calling the weavers attention to the fact that the loom needs attention. Further aims of the invention are to provide a structure which will operate correctly in spite of changes in the widths of the respective fabrics being woven, and to make it possible to install the detectors in existing looms with a minimum of effort and change therein and without adding appreciably to the weight of the lay or cluttering up the lay or the breast-beam with motion-transmitting elements or wiring interfering with the weavers work or otherwise adding obstructions.

Other aims of the invention, and the manner of their attainment, are set forth in the following description.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view in perspective indicating the breast beam and lay of a narrow fabric loom and the shuttle and reed employed in the weaving of one of the plurality of narrow fabrics woven thereon, together with the weft detector of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the timer and the electrical connections between the weft feelers and the loom stop motion.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective View of a portion of the breast beam and the electrical contact elements thereon showing an alternative way of positioning the weft feeler in its normal position.

The invention is shown in connection with a narrow fabric loom employing bow shuttles, though it is equally applicable to straight shuttle narrow fabric looms. Since the reed, shuttle, and weft detector shown herein are duplicated and identical at each of the plurality of locations in the length of the lay where the respective narrow fabrics are being woven, only the parts involved in the invention at one such location are shown and described herein, all other parts being standard, it being understood that one of the novel feelers of the weft detector is provided alongside of each fabric being woven in the loom. As usual in many instances, the bow shuttle l carrying the bobbin 3 on which is wound the weft 5 travels back and forth through the shed of warps 9 in a curved path guided by part-circular slots forming a shuttle race in blocks (not shown) supported on the back of the la It at each side of the reed II also supported on the lay-back, all in conventional manner, the shuttle passing back and forth in front of the reed. The fabric I3 is drawn forward over rail E5 on the breast beam l1, and wound on a cloth roll (not shown) under substantial tension.

In accordance with the invention, a Weft feeler 20 is provided, preferably made out of light, stiff steel wire, in the shape of a symmetrical polygonal p having a forward extension 2| and a rearward extension 23 disposed in the line of its axis. This feeler extends through the reed, being located in the interval between two dents outside the adjacent final selvage warp. The width of the loop is such as to exceed the height of the shed 1 throughout a portion of the fore-and-aft length of the shed in excess of the length of the excursions of the reed, so that the shuttle i can pass freely through the loop in front of the reed during its travel through the shed 1 without any contact with the loop, the dents of the reed on either side of the loop always holding the latter in a vertical plane.

To perform its detecting functions, the feeler 20 is designed to be moved forward each time the lay beats up with the weft 5 extending in proper taut and unbroken relation from the fell 6 of the cloth to the shuttle when the latter is at the same side of the fabric l3 as the feeler 20. To this end, the loop of feeler 20 has a bent crosspiece or portion 25 which is engaged by the weft 5 as the latter is beaten into the fell by the reed as the lay reaches front center, and thus the whole feeler 2B is moved forward a fraction of an inch at this instant.

So that the loop 20 will always be maintained vertical, the junction of the forward extension 2! of metal 29 or other electrically-conductive material secured as by screws 3! on anonsconducting base 33 of wood or other materiafapplie'd'to and fixed on the breast beam llvassby. screwsw st. A second strip 38 of electricallyelcoriductive ma- The timing switch a l, which thus limits the re-= sponse of the circuit including the loom stopmotion 55 to the brief period during which the weft feelers 2! of the plurality of reeds disposed across the lay should be moved forward by the respective wefts if the latter are in proper working condition, is actuated from any suitable or -preferredgoing'part onthe loomahereiniby means -of-acam 'fiii fiXe'd'on theloom cam-shaft fitl, which shaft makes one rotation for every two cycles of the lay. Thus the rise of cam 53 rocks a bell- .cranktlever-fil counterclockwise about a pivot 69,

suitably mounted on a fixed part of the loom,

such' lever pushing-in the spring plunger II of terial is attached as by screws 31 to the vertical 1 front wall of base 33, with itstop-edge below the top surface of base 33. The'forwar'd extremity of extension 2| is bent down at right-i'anglesmo provide a finger 22 to make contact with this strip 36 except when the feeler is pushed forward I by the weft-5 on beat-up-as described.

The rearward:extension 23 of the-feeler is supported and guided in an eye- 39 of one ofthe wires 4| ofawheddle 43 standing 'ever in fixed -positionbehind the lay,=- and-a very light-coontracting coil spring' ifi. has oneof its ends hooked into the loop of feeler 263 and itsother end hooked .into heddle eye 39 to-exert a pullsufficient to .holdthe..downturned-end 22 -of the forward extension 21 in contact'withlstrip 36, toprevent theslight tendencyof the friction against the adjacent dents of the-advancing reed from carrying the feelerx'f'orward-iduringibeat-up. This 'pull of spring 45- is however too weak to prevent'the forward movement of thefeeler when'the .weftu' is caught in the angle of' the portion asithe weft is-beaten' into-the fell,- and thus 1onevery other pick the finger 2? is removed from eontact with'strip 3Bso' long as the weft remains in good working order, in 'unbroken extent 'from' the fell to the shuttle eyeand properly tensioned by the friction device in theshuttle. 'But-ifthe-weft is broken or has run out, or is too'slackjit will fail ,thus to move the feeler forward atthis phase of i the looms cycle, and the finger=22'-willremain in contact wit-h strip- 36. 'In order to-get'adetecting impulse fromthis result of a defective weft, strips Hand 36 are respectively made conducting elements of an electrical circuit actuating a shipperknock-ofi, or loom stop-motion, this circuit being completed as between these two strips by .thecontact ;of finger 22' with strip iifi'andthat .ofthe extension 2| with the interior of the hole 2? in'the stripfiti.

Thus, strip 291is1connected by'wireti, Figsp'il and 2', with oneterminal of the low sideof a step down transformer 39, Fig. '2,."supplying"l2 to '18 volt current. taken from' high voltage mains 5i connected with a suitable sourceofpower (not shown) whilestrip36 is connected by wire53 with one terminal of an electrically actuated loom stop-motion 55. The other terminal of the stopmotion' is connected by leads 5?, 59,.Lto the other terminal of 1 the low voltage side. of transformer -43, through aswitch. 6| which is actuated mechanicallyintimed relation to the looms cycle insuch manner that the current canapass switch 6| and thus flow through the circuit Onlyasthe V layarrives at front center to effect-the beating up of the pick which has been-laid in from-right to left of the cloth. That is, the circuit-is energgized only as the-lay-reaches front center on every other. pick.

left of 'the webs of'fabric.

switch--6l= -to clese such switch, each time the lay 'reaches frontcenter with the shuttles I standing-at the leftside-of the respective fabrics being woven thereby, namely atevery other beat-up of the lay. In this way, the contact of the feeler fingers 22 with contact strip it normally occur- "ring throughoutfthe'entire working. of the loom -except at the momentslwhen tthesimultaneous testing of theseveral' wefts by the feelersx2l) takes place,is nullified and. rendered ineffective .to stop the loom. As is 0bvious, =it is only when thecircuitis closed-simultaneously by the finger 22 of a feeler andthe switch't l that the stop-lmotion acts -to stop'the loom; and this simultaneous closure of the circuit at two pointscan oc'our only at 'thebeat up of 'a pick-laid infrom right to left. The result is that af'ailure-of-the wft'weaV- ing in'one-of the plurality of fabrics in the'loom instantly oallsthe change in themannerof -operation of the loom, hereby stopping the loom.

While in the'drawings the-weft feeler 23 is shown located at the left hand-side of the fabric,

yet it is in'certain instances located atthe right hand side of the fabric aswhere it is the practiceor preference of the'weaver to replenish the weftin' the shuttles with the latter located "at'the In this location it is well out of theweaversway. The timing cam t3 is then'fixed on cam-shaft 50138 to rock lever '61 and close switchfil each timethe lay'reaches from center with the shuttles i' standing at'th'e right hand si'deof their respective'fabrics being woven thereby.

When-itis desiredtotest'the' weft at each pick,

instea'd of at every otherj'pick, as in .theforms described, two feelers are used at each fabric, .one

on each side thereof. Thus, theforin of complete detector mechanism shown and described in connection with Figs. 1 and Zand having its'feeler '28 located at the left of the fabric, and a second complete detector mechanism with. its own --wiring,.sw-itch, cam, and other partsshown' in Fig. 2, having its feeler located at' the right :ofthe fabric as just described-in the preceding paragraph and extending through .the same reed. are employed simultaneously at each fabric; the twocams =63 beinglocated 180 -apart onthecam .shaft :and two pairs ofcontact strips :such as 29 and-SS -being providedside byside across the :breast'beam. on bases 33 of unequalheights; so

that the forward extensions 2l of "say the. right .handfeelers will extendabove :and out of contactwith thestrip 29 on the lower and-rearward base 33. Thus if the feeler located atthe shuttle side of' the fabric ateach successive beat up fails to be moved forward by'the weft, the loom will .be stopped immediately following the defective pick.

In-lieu ofthe pullspring 45 to hold the feeler in its normal waiting position with its finger 22 against contact strip 3fi, a-leaf spring-13, Fig. 3,

mounted on a block of insulation and held in place by a screw passing through a hole in contact strip 36 into base 83 without contact with the sides of the hole, applies the necessary light and yielding rearward bias to feeler 29.

While I have illustrated and described certain forms in which the invention may be embodied, I am aware that many modifications may be made therein by any person skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the particular forms shown, or to the details of construction thereof, but what I do claim is:

1. In a narrow fabric loom having a lay and a plurality of reeds and shuttles weaving fabrics thereon, in combination, a weft feeler mounted for forward and backward sliding movement alongside the fell of the fabric being woven at one of the reeds, and slid forward by engagement with a weft thread extending from a shuttle to the fabric being woven by the latter, and means calling a change in the action of the loom when the feeler fails to be thus moved forward as the lay beats up.

2. The combination according to claim 1, in which one such weft feeler is provided in connection with each fabric in the loom, and the change-calling means responds to the failure of any one feeler to be moved forward as the lay heats up.

3. In a narrow fabric loom having a lay and a plurality of reeds and shuttles thereon, in combination, a member engaged by the weft extending from a working shuttle and supported on the breast beam for sliding movement forward and backward in the loom, mechanism calling a change in the working of the loom, and an elec tric circuit actuating the change-calling mechanism when the member fails to be slid forward through engagement with the weft as the lay beats up.

4. In a narrow fabric loom having a breast beam, a lay, and a plurality of reeds and shuttles on the lay, in combination, a member supported on the breast beam for sliding movement forward and backward in the loom and engaged by the weft extending from a working shuttle on alternate beats of the lay, a loom stop-motion, and an electric circuit controlling such stop-motion and closed to cause actuation thereof whenever the weft fails to slide the member forward on such alternate beats.

5. In a narrow fabric loom having a lay and a reed and shuttle thereon, in combination, a weft feeler extending through the reed and supported on the breast beam and behind the lay with capacity for movement forward and backward in the loom, and having a portion to be engaged by the weft thread extending from the shuttle to the fabric being woven thereby, and means calling a change in the working of the loom when the feeler fails to be moved forward by the weft on two successive beats of the lay.

6. In a narrow fabric loom having a lay, a reed, and a shuttle, in combination, a weft feeler com prising a loop extending through the reed and held in a vertical plane by the dents thereof, means supporting the feeler so that the shuttle passes through the loop therein to lay the weft therethrough, and loom stop motion mechanism set to stop the loom on alternate beats of the lay and prevented from so doing by the engagement of the weft with a portion in connection with the loop of the feeler.

7. In a narrow fabric loom having a lay, a reed, a shuttle, and a stop-motion, in combination, an electric circuit actuating the stop-motion when closed, a weft feeler comprising a loop through which the shuttle passes to lay the weft therethrough, means on the breast beam normally closing the circuit at this point unless the weft moves the feeler forward on beat-up, and timer means closing a remaining break in the circuit only during the completion of alternate beats of the lay.

8. A weft feeler for looms having a lay, a heddle, a shuttle, and a breast beam, the feeler comprising a loop through which the shuttle travels, a rearward extension thereon to be supported by a heddle, and a forward extension thereon to be supported by the breast beam.

9. In a narrow fabric loom, in combination, a weft feeler slid forward bodily by the weft at beat up, and a stop-motion actuated by the feeler when the latter fails to be slid forward by the weft.

10. In a narrow fabric loom having a lay and a reed, in combination, a weft feeler extending through the reed and supported before and behind the lay for bodily sliding movement frontward and backward of the loom, means in connection with the feeler providing a surface for engagement by a taut weft extending outwardly from the selvage of the fabric to move the feeler bodily, and a stop-motion actuated by such movement of the feeler to stop the loom.

11. In a narrow fabric loom having a breast beam, a lay, and a reed having dents thereon in combination, a weft feeler extending through the reed and having spaced wires engaging the dents at different elevations and having a portion in connection with such wires to be engaged by a weft, means supporting the feeler on the breast beam and behind the lay for forward sliding movement, a stop-motion, an electrical circuit actuating such stop-motion when closed, timing means periodically closing a gap in such circuit as the lay beats up, and the feeler simultaneously opening a gap in such circuit when the said portion of the feeler is engaged by a taut weft and the feeler is slid forward thereby.

SAMUEL F. SICILIANO.

No references cited. 

